Method and system for facilitating mediated communication

• US 8,144,840 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Luehrig, Uwe, Evans, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/675,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/261, 370/356, 370/409, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/7.01, 379/215.01, 379/52, 379/88.18, 379/88.23, 379/80.01, 379/127.01, 379/201.01, 704/221, 704/258, 704/260, 704/270.1, 455/417, 705/14.56, 709/201, 709/203, 709/206, 709/219, 709/225, 709/227, 719/238
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 : Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 : Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 : Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0042 : where the data service is a text-based messaging service H04M7/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method for facilitating mediated communication. In such an embodiment of the disclosures made herein, a voice-based communication request transmitted from a first communication device is received by a mediation system. The voice based communication request is requesting voice-based communication between the first communication device and a second communication device. In response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, a capability of the first communication device for communicating via a prescribed text messaging protocol is determined. Facilitating presentation of a text messaging follow-through action at the second communication device is performed in response to determining that the first communication device is capable of communicating via the prescribed text messaging protocol.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving a request for voice-based communication from a first communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the first communication device of the calling party and a second communication device of a called party;

in response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, automatically determining whether the first communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol;

in response to determining that the first communication device supports communication via the text messaging protocol, causing a response option to be displayed on a display of the second communication device of the called party, for selection by the called party, wherein the response option allows the called party to request transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication; and

in response to selection by the called party of the response option requesting transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication, transmitting a text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party via the text messaging protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of transmitting the text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party comprises:

transmitting the text-based response from a mediation system to the first communication device of the calling party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of transmitting the text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party comprises:

transmitting the text-based response from the second communication device of the called party to the first communication device of the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of determining whether the first communication device supports communication via a text messaging protocol comprises:

determining whether the first communication device supports a protocol selected from the group of text messaging protocols consisting essentially of a Short Text Messaging protocol, an Internet Address Messaging protocol, a Multi Messaging Service protocol, an Enhanced Messaging Service protocol and an instant text messaging protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of determining whether the first communication device supports communication via a text messaging protocol comprises:

identifying at least a portion of a device identifier associated with the first communication device on a list of device identifiers capable of communicating via the text messaging protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the mediation system, a mediation bypass notification from the second communication device; and

facilitating presentation of a mediation bypass follow-through notification at the first communication device in response to receiving the mediation by-pass notification, wherein the mediation bypass follow-through notification informs the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

facilitating a mediation bypass time-out operation for limiting a duration of time for providing mediation bypass for the calling party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of causing a response option to be displayed on a display of the second communication device of the called party comprises:

causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options for selection by the called party.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options comprises:

causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a call-back from the calling party; and

causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a text message response from the calling party.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:

causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a specified informational response from the calling party.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:

causing the second communication device to display an option to notify the calling party that the called party intends to initiate a voice-based return call at a later point in time.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:

causing the second communication device to display an option to notify the calling party of an alternate contact number for the called party.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options comprises:

displaying an option to request transmission of a predefined text message to the calling party.

14. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving input from a calling party at a first communication device;

in response to receiving input from the calling party at the first communication device, initiating a telephone call from the first communication device of the calling party to a second communication device of a called party;

after initiating the telephone call, receiving at the first communication device, a voice-based response from a mediation system, wherein the voice-based response notifies the calling party to expect to receive a text-based response at the first communication device;

after initiating the telephone call, receiving, at the first communication device, the text-based response; and

displaying the text-based response on a display of the first communication device for the calling party.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the operation of receiving a voice-based response from a mediation system, at the first communication device of the calling party, further comprises:

receiving notification at the first communication device of the calling party of a procedure for leaving a voice-based mail message for the called party.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the operation of receiving a voice-based message from a mediation system, at the first communication device of the calling party, further comprises:

receiving a mediation notification at the first communication device, wherein the mediation bypass notification informs the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.

17. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving a request for voice-based communication from a first communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the first communication device of the calling party and a second communication device of a called party

in conjunction with receiving the request for voice-based communication from the first communication device of the calling party, displaying a text messaging follow-through option on a visual display of the second communication device, wherein the text messaging follow-through option allows the called party to request transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication; and

in response to selection by the called party of the text messaging follow-through option requesting transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication, automatically causing a text-based response to be transmitted to the first communication device of the calling party.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operation of displaying a text messaging follow-through option on a visual display of the second communication device comprises:

displaying a mediation bypass follow-through option on the visual display of the second communication device, for selection by the called party to inform the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

facilitating a mediation bypass time-out operation for limiting a duration of time for providing mediation bypass for the calling party.